Court denies Apple appeal in Epic Games case, keeping App Store changes in place

In a significant ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has turned down Apple's request to suspend modifications to its App Store, which stem from its ongoing legal confrontation with Epic Games. The judicial panel stated that Apple did not adequately demonstrate the need for a stay, asserting, "After reviewing the relevant factors, we are not persuaded that a stay is appropriate." This decision follows a prior directive from U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, which prohibited Apple from charging commissions on payment links within its apps and restricted the company’s ability to dictate the appearance of these links. Apple has claimed that this ruling could lead to considerable financial losses. The impact of this decision is already being felt in the app development landscape, as developers such as Amazon and Spotify have adapted their applications to bypass Apple's commission fees, which range from 15% to 30%, directing users to their own sites for payments. For instance, the Kindle app on iPhone now features a prominent orange button labeled “Get Book,” linking directly to Amazon’s website. The court's refusal to grant Apple a stay confirms that these new regulations will remain in effect. Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook has expressed intentions to continue appealing Judge Rogers' earlier decisions. In April, she determined that Apple had breached her initial court ruling from the Epic Games trial, which had mandated some alterations to its policies regarding external payment links. Her updated ruling, which compelled Apple to cease its commission practices immediately, also accused the company of misleading the court. An Apple representative commented, “We are disappointed with the decision not to stay the district court's order, and we'll continue to argue our case during the appeals process. Our goal is to ensure the App Store remains an incredible opportunity for developers and a safe and trusted experience for our users.” In response to the ruling, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated on social media, declaring, “The long national nightmare of the Apple tax is ended.”